The Postal Services Regulations 1999

The Postal Services Commission

3.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Postal Services Commission in the performance of its function–

(a) to promote the interests of consumers of postal services generally, having regard, in particular, to the need for effective competition wherever possible and appropriate;

(b) to promote the provision of a universal postal service (within the meaning given by section 59(1A) of the 1981 Act(1));

(c) to promote the provision of high quality postal services;

(d) to have regard to guidance issued to it by the Secretary of State;

(e) to keep itself informed about postal services generally;

(f) to prepare an annual report on the performance of its function to the Secretary of State;

(g) to consult the Post Office Users' National Council(2); and

(h) to prepare, consult on, publish and have regard to a code of practice governing the exercise of its function.

(2) For the purposes of performing its function the Commission shall have power–

(a) with the approval of the Secretary of State and the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of service, to appoint such staff as it may determine;

(b) to require the Post Office to furnish the Commission with such information as appears to the Commission to be requisite or expedient for the purposes of facilitating the performance of its function and, if it considers it in the public interest, to publish such information.

(3) Anything authorised or required by or under these Regulations to be done by the Commission may be done by any member of the staff of the Commission who is authorised generally or specifically in that behalf by the Commission.

(4) In Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967(3) (departments and authorities subject to investigation), there shall be inserted (at the appropriate place) the following entry–

“Postal Services Commission.”

(5) In Part II of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975(4) (bodies of which all members are disqualified), there shall be inserted (at the appropriate place) the following entry–

“The Postal Services Commission.”

(1)

Subsection (1A) is inserted by regulation 4(1) of these Regulations.

(2)

Established by section 14 of the 1969 Act.

(3)

1967 c. 13.

(4)

1975 c. 24.